How Do You Soak Newer Stamps?

I collected a lot with my kids when they were little(all in mid=20's now)when the adhesive came off of paper clean. When they changed to the no-lick stamps I could never get them to soak off of paper very well. How do you folks do it?

Post-2004 US stamps do not soak off. Clip them close and mount them in your album.

David

Some post 2004 USA self-adhesive stamps will still soak off in warm water and a long soak time (overnight). (Like the flags of our Nation) Others I have been able to soak off with alcohol, but that is messy and you still have to wipe off the residue left behind on the stamp. On some stamps the alcohol will destroy the ink and ruin the stamp (Like Gary Cooperand Macinac Bridge $4.90). So as David said, clip close and leave the paper on.And added benefit is that by not soaking, you leave the tagging alone, whereas if you soak, that may affect the tagging.

Dave N.
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I tried the method utilizing Coleman lantern fuel after the New Zealand member's video on You-Tube but with mixed results. You have to really want the stamp but it does work.

Thanks folks.I thought I was just missing something in the process.

I have found that you can soak some of the new self stick stamps off envelopes, but the paper is very fragile and in the process you might tear it and also you are not going to be able to get all of the residue off the back.. Gentle rubbing will get some of it off, but if you apply too much pressure or insist on getting it all off you will likely either tear it or thin it.

Soaking off self-adhesive stamps is hit and miss. I would just leave them on the paper.

Canadian self-adhesive soak off just as well as the lick-em stamps.

Use the edged scrapbooking scissors to cut aroiund them--they look great in the album.
Gussyboy1

Pinking Shears ?

Hi Gussyboy ! Nice to see you. Hope you are well!

Rod, yes I believe those are the ones. Not as common with the single guy perhaps. I have various pliers or a pair of metal shears or a hacksaw but you don't get the same effect.

Stop buying the ******* things and they might stop making them! I don't know what happens overseas, but here in Australia, they sell sheet stamps and peel and sticks. I always reject P&S and am vocal in the process.

If I get common P&S definitives on an envelope,I cringe and get very cranky at the person posting to me

thought i'd comment in on this topic since I see most people having problems with the self adhesive stamps. I have to disagree with everyone who says, they dont come off...

i've been soaking for the past couple of weeks...all of the self adhesive stamps i've come across, including the higher value ones, have all come off the paper and cardboard, too. i've come across a few that were applied to tape instead of paper (tape to seal a box), and i'd cut around the stamp (with the tape attached), put it in water and wait. it does take a few minutes for the adhesive to absorb the water. i've been using warm water. be patient and they will come off. after doing many of the self adhesive ones, I actually think they're easier than some of the lick and stick stamps i've come across...go figure?

Is this current (recent) USA stamps you are talking about? I know Canada stamps seem to take a while but do come off but the USA ones (and others) are a different animal.

Does the water you use have minerals of some sort or something else in it that most of us don't have in our water? Do you use city supplied, treated water or well or spring water? I just can't imagine how else the stamps could come off. Do you use a soap of some sort or add something extra to the water yourself?

Just darn curious.

I have tried to soak some of the newer US stamps. I have used water and PGA on some of the tough ones. Some will come off and some will not no matter what you try. I have got to the point where I just leave the stamp on paper. I do not like doing it that way but its not worth the trouble on some of these stamps. I have a large box full of recent US stamps that I save from work. I pick out what I need and the rest just stays in the box. Maybe one day a magic solvent will come along that will take these babies off with little trouble. Doubt it :(